Stalagmium {A pendant}

"As many of you were expecting from this gathering, I am here to share the news I told you about a few days ago." Zelie said as her seafoam eyes glanced around the room not landing anywhere particular, only giving the entire room a once over.

Arya and the teachers that stood at the side knew what she was going to be talking about. The student however, did not. Arya arched her back in the chair making sure her posture remained the same as she let her mind wander. The most foolish mistake someone could make when trying to pretend that they were listen was slumping. Arya didn't want to disrespect Zelie but she couldn't be bothered with listening to the same thing twice. Arya was pretty sure that Zelie knew that she wasn't listening since her gaze had landed on her more than once.

"You will be receiving scrolls from your teachers if you are eligible for the competitions. The maximum number of competitions for which you can be entered into are three. This is to ensure that everyone gets a chance."

Arya made sure to listen to the next part because these were things that Zelie had not told her. Obviously Arya had known that not everyone would be able to compete because Zelie had said the competition was for the best of the best, the cream of the crops. What she had not talked about was how they would be chosen. It made sense to have the teachers choose since they would have the best understanding about the students that they taught.

"The competition categories are: Archery, Kalvarian History, Equestrianism, Herbs and Healing, and the main event a dueling tournament between students of both schools. The winner will be presented with Sir Lancelot's sword as well as a banquet in their name." Zelie said.

So those were the categories. That must mean that the Narvanian Academy offered the same courses. It made sense as she was sure that the boy's academy would not have had embroidery, or penmanship. She of course found these courses useless, especially embroidery but Narvian Academy offered them for the ladies and princess that came from outside Kalvaria. Surely the people that sent them would expect them to be proper ladies as they returned. Unfortunately, Lady Zelie wanted balanced students so she made the all warriors take one of the princesses' courses and vice versa.

"If you don't get chosen, it's not the end of the world." Zelie said gently. "Although I do want to remind you that you can be replaced by someone else if you are not performing up to par. I only want the hardworking and high achieving students. I'm sure that Zander will be doing the same and I want the Narvian Academy to demolish his students."

Arya could visible see the girls around her perking up. It seemed that the girls were more interested then they were letting on. She was certain that Zelie would assemble the best team possible. She hated loosing and nothing could be worse than losing to her twin, Zander.

Zelie glanced at the wooden clock before looking at the students. "I know I have been speaking for a longer period of time but we're almost done, so bear with me."

Everyone became silent and the tone of her voice. Not only was she their headmistress, but also a member of the royal family who had the power and strength to kill you herself.

"There is going to be an addition to your courses." Zelie glanced at the teachers before gesturing towards Madame Annie. "Madame Annie will now also teach you all to dance. There will be a masquerade ball at the beginning of the Heres Gladii and I don't want you stumbling around like idiots."

Arya didn't know what to think of this new development. She had never danced in her entire life and she was pretty sure she wasn't going to be good at it. Madame Annie taught embroidery to the girls and she didn't particular like Arya's work. Well, if that's what one called it. Arya might be able to wield a sword, but she wasn't able to poke a needle through a cloth which is why Madame Annie didn't like her very much.

"One last thing before all of you are dismissed back to class. Each of the schools must choose a champion. This individual is the leader of the entire group. The teachers and I had a very long meeting before we all came to the conclusion that no one else could do the job better than Arya Ernest." Zelie said surprising everyone.

Arya was shocked herself. Zelie hadn't mentioned this to her before or even asked her opinion. If she had done so, she would have known that Arya didn't want this role. Having no choice, Arya got up and made her way brusquely to Lady Zelie at the front. She could feel the eyes of the students on the back of her head and could also hear the mutterings. She bowed before Zelie who presented her with a necklace.

It was a beautiful white chain that had an oval pendant in the middle of it. Lady Zelie put the necklace around Arya's neck before explaining to the other girls what it meant. "Each champion is present with a royal heirloom. This show's their power and identification. In this case," her shoulders touched Arya's briefly, "it will allow others to know of Arya's rank."

Arya stared far ahead avoiding everyone's gaze. She vaguely heard Zelie dismissing everyone but Arya stood stone-still waiting for the right moment to talk to Zelie. Finally, when everyone had left she turned to Zelie. "You know I don't want this."

Zelie gave her a small smile. "That is exactly why you deserve it more than anyone. People who are afraid of being in power are often the ones who are the purest and most deserving."

Arya softly touched the necklace. "I already have so much attention, I don't need more."

Zelie laughed light. "That you do, but this is just the beginning. You will be the vessel of my army." Her tone remained light but there was a firmness hidden beneath the words.

Arya knew she wasn't going to win this battle. She bowed to Zelie before making her way out of the room. As she reached the exit, she heard Zelie calling her so she turned around.

"Arya, do be careful with the necklace. It's a precious heirloom and I'm sure Queen Marie wouldn't be too happy if it gets lost."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Arya stood in the stables she brushed her horse Eclipse. He was a sleek black Arabian stallion that had been a present from Lady Zelie on the day she turned thirteen. Arya had immediately felt a bond with the stallion and they had been close ever since. He was her companion and he accompanied her almost every trip she made. In the far distance, Arya heard a long whistle, she was pretty sure that it was Madame Juliet calling everyone to saddle their horses so class could begin.

Arya mounted on Eclipse and gave him a light kick signalling that it was time to start moving. She trotted to where the rest of the students stood neck to their horses. As Arya made her way to the group before dismounting Madame Juliet looked at her questioningly.

"Is that everyone?" she asked.

Arya nodded and so Madame Juliet got right to business. This seemed to be a tread with all the teachers today.

"As you all heard in Lady Zelie's speech today, one of the competition categories is going to be Equestrianism. Within that category will be different competitions. Next to the duel, equestrianism is the most anticipated competitions so I will not be taking any foolish student. I want the strongest students to compete." she said seriously.

Arya had heard the same speech in all of her classes. Although after the speech, she had been handed a scroll for history, swordsmanship, and she was hoping horseback. Arya hadn't expected to be handed a scroll for archery because although she was decent, there more talented archers in the school. Besides, Arya was able to defend herself with her sword, what need did she have for archery?

"I do have the scrolls, but I shall hand them out at the end of the class so I am able to see that the students selected still deserve them."

There was an outbreak of mutters among the students but Madame Juliet once again let out a whistle silencing the girls. "Mount your horses, we are starting class now."

Everyone did as she said. There were groups of girls that were still huddled in the corner whispering and gossiping but Madame Juliet ignored them.

"Your first challenge will be preforming something called show jumping. It seems simple, jump over the bars set up without having your horses legs touch the bar or make it fall but I warn you, many get injured while trying this." she said sternly.

"Everyone is going to start with a lower height and we are gradually going to make our way to that," her fingers pointed to direction where to the extreme left five bars had been set up.

Arya wouldn't admit it to anyone, but even she thought it was a little bit too high. Nevertheless, she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. Eclipse and she had done jumping many times whether it was during class or simply when they went for a ride.

Madame Juliet mounted her horse; an Akhal-Teke that had a gleaming tan coat of fur. "Would anyone volunteer to go first?"

Arya was about to step forward but another girl did so before her so Arya stepped back.

Getting a glance of the curly brown hair and minty green eyes, Arya recognized her as Jennica, the daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Caydeh. They were one of the most influential people in Kalveria and close friends of the king. However, this held no rank in the academy and that was just one of the things Arya appreciated about Princess Zelie. Not matter a person's rank, if they worked hard then they deserved to be in the academy despite the opinions of others.

Madame Juliet cleared the view and gestured towards Jennica, "go ahead dear."

Jennica immediately began a trout before taking the jump. It was flawless and her and her horse landed on the other side with the bars still intact.

"Excellent." Madame Juliet said.

Based on simply seeing Jennica for few counted moments Arya was able to tell that she was confident with her horse more than she was with her sword. Arya would bet Queen Marie's necklace that this girl would be part taking in the Heres Gladii tournament for equestrianism.

A few of the girls began to clap as Jennica made her way back to the group. Arya could only assume they were her friends or possibly her posse. She was quite sure it was the latter. When Arya went next, the bar remained intact as it had done with Jennica and she could have sworn she saw the girl giving her a sneer. Arya ignored it and watched as the other girls in their class gained confidence and tried jumping. Many of them made it while for others, the bar came clattering down. It would have to be put on back by Madame Juliet quite a few times. After everyone had tried the easier level bars Madame Juliet moved onto the last one.

"Is anyone willing to go fist?" Madame Juliet once again prodded.

This time, nobody raised their hands or volunteered. Arya wasn't foolish enough to go first not matter how brave it made someone seem. Whoever went first would be most inclined to making mistakes and Arya would seize that opportunity and perfect it.

"For heaven's sake girls, I'll go and show you how it's done." Madame Juliet said from her horse.

She started by patting the beast and and trotting lightly. It was the same thing the girls had done so Arya didn't find anything peculiar. Madame Juliet made a lap around the area before making the jump. Her and the Akhal-Teke were flawless as they leaped through the air in unison. It was at that moment where everything became clear. It wasn't just the timing that made the jump flawless; it was the understanding between the horse and its master as well. The stallion needed to trust its master completely who in return wouldn't let it down.

Based on what she saw, it was fair for Arya to assume that Madame Juliet and her horse had been together very long. Arya could also foretell that many of the girls would not be able to execute the jump correctly as they used the school's stallions that had very little trust in humans. When Madame Juliet came back to the girls, Arya volunteered to go first because she had received a clear understanding of what she was going to have to do now.

Like Madame Juliet had done previously, Arya led Eclipse to do a trout around the area before making her way in front of the bar.

She leaned in and whispered into Eclipses ear, "Do you trust me boy?"

The stallion whined in answer. Feeling confident, Arya took the plunge and to her surprise made the jump successful without any of the bars shaking or tumbling.

"Good boy," Arya said as she patted Eclipse.

"Excellent." Madame Juliet said as Arya returned to wherever everyone was standing.

Slowly, as before the girls seemed to gain confidence as they begin volunteering without Madame Juliet having to pick them out. Arya haphazardly watched the girls as most of them either dropped the bar or had their horses going the wrong way. However, that soon changed when it was Jennica's turn. Arya turned her focus on the brown haired girl because she knew she was competition as well as one of the best riders based on her evaluations.

Arya wasn't proven wrong when Jennica almost executed a perfect jump but at the end her stallion hooves touched the bar by a hairline causing it to shake, but not fall. Jennica looked quite annoyed even more so when the giggling group of girls started complementing her. She gave Arya a look that didn't pass by her so well but she ignored it. She had no interest in starting a fight.

At the end of the class, Arya received a scroll, as did Jennica. The third rider was not in their class but another, Madame Juliet told her. Jennica had looked calm and collected at the prospect of receiving a scroll but Arya, who had spent her life hiding her emotions knew what she felt deep inside. She herself pocketed the second scroll before guiding Eclipse back into the stables. She was feeling pretty satisfied about how the day had turned out.